Rod switch



N. A. WILSON Sept. 16, 1958 ROD SWITCH Filed Aug. 9, 1957 INVENTOR.TloTman ZlfiZson United States Patent" This invention relatesto a rodswitch and more-par ticularlyto apparatus for use'in a rolling inill'to"deflect a rod from one path to another.

In a rolling mill for producing rod orba'r' fis'usual: practice to severthe rod into a number of shorter'leng'ths so that: each length may behandled by a cooling bed'of a reasonable length. One apparatus commonlyemployed for this purpose comprises a pair of rotatable vertical cuttingdiscs arranged one above the other at one sideofthe normal path oftravel of the'bars and at an obliqueangle-with the said bar. As eachbarapproaches the discs it is guided along its normal path of travelbyaswitch device, which in the usual case provides IWO llPf right guidesurfaces at opposite sides of the bar; ---When e the bar is to besevered, the switch device is moved laterally-to swing the bar into thebite of the cutting discsand 'the bar is cut as it is passed between-the'discss As this'takes pla'cethe bar is given a very suddenlateralmovement by the action of the rapidly-rotating =disc-sr- Since'the switch device is moved at a'relatively low speed, the tendency isfor the laterally moving bar t'o strike" against the rearedge of one oftheupright guidesurfaces and produce a sharp end or'hookin thebar'somewhat rearward of the point of severance." This is highly-undesirable 'since a cobble may'resultfromfailure of the" cultiesexperienced with previously knownapparatu's has been obviated'in a novelmanner by the present invention.

It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide acomparativelysimple, inexpensive anddep'endable ap-"-.

paratus for severing metal bars of the like while they are travelinglongitudinally at high speed.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a simple andthoroughly reliable shearingapparatus'forsevering rapidly travelingmetal bars by'moviiig-"thein laterally between two rotating disc's, theconstruction'-be-- ing such as to avoid any appreciable bending of thebars;

It is a still further object of the present'invention to provide a rodswitch which operates to move therod' from one path of motion to anotherin'which the forces acting on the rod are cushioned and nohiglilocalized force-of sufiicient magnitude to damage-the rod ispresent in the apparatus.

Still another object of this invention istheprovision of a rod switchhaving means to restrain'the path 'of the rodto a first direction, thesaid means'being' automatically removed when the switchingaction'takesplace, "thereby preventing damage to the rod.

With these and other objects in view 'as will be ap-t parent to thoseskilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination 'of partsset forth in the specificationand covered by the claimsappended hereto.

The character of the invention, however, may'be 'best' understood byreference to certain of its structural--forms as'illustrated by theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view=of .ap

'40 bentfront end to pass through subsequent guides inthe rolling millin the proper manner. This 'and'other difiiparatiis embodyingtheprinciples' df'tlie present inve'zitidn',"

Figure '2'"is a s'ecti'onal'viewof the apparatus taken: on

thej'line II-II Of'Flgll Ie '1 and in addition showing the hydrauliccircuits associated with'the 'appara ti1s, and

liiggu're? is a section'al view of the invention taken on theline'III--III of'Figure 1.

Referring first to Figure "1, wherein are best shown the generalfeatures of the invention, theswitch, indicated generally bythelreference 10,-is shown in use in' connec tion with a disc shear notthe generaltype 'shown and described in the U. S. patent to Morgan-No.2,664,950.' In the present case, however,- -the--discs 12 aresupportedin side-by-side relationship-so that'a rod is severed bypassage vertically-therebetweenf The'-'switch'10 consists" generally'ofan approach section 13 and a backshea'r section 14. The 'back shearsection '14 consist'sof a hous ing 15 of generally tubular-conformationand'a dividing"- member16 which serves to separate the housing-into anupper path '17 and a lower'path 18. The end of the dividing-member16'which was adjacent the shear 11 is tapered to" a rounded point whichserves to provide 'a smooth floor for the-upper path 17 and a smoothlycurved roof'fo'r the lower path 18.

The approach section 13 is'provided"with"a housing 19 0f a generallytubular construction"andtapering from a large cross-sectional areaadjacent the shear 11 to a' cross-section of reducedarea 'at "the pointof firstgintroduction of the rod thereto. As is evident in Figure Z;

the housing and ;the ousing- 19 V are'i of ovoid crosssectionalf shape,with'the'longfaxis' extending vertically. The shear -11, -the approa'chportion' 13, "and the'back shear portion -ls are all suitablyi'supportedon 'the fioor of the mill. It should be noted that'the'shear blades'12are inclinedat "a'substantial angle to the horizontal and that 'theendsdf the portions 13 and'14 which reside adjac'e'ntthe-blades areinclined at the same angle in order to permit the blades to be placedclosely adjacent ther to without interference. In the case' of theapproach portion 13 the angular conformation of the end thereofwhich'isadjacent the blades 12 results in a hooded effect and under thishood resides a nozzle 21. Midway between" the upper and lower part ofthe approach portion 13 is a divider 22, the edge of which is providedwith' a sharp edge "in the portion thereof whichis away from the shear11.

Referring now to Figure 3, it can be seen that the di vider is'pivotally attached at its approach end by means of a pin 23 to anabutment 24 which is suitably attached to the mill foundation. Thehousing 19 of the' approach portion 13 of the switch is provided with ahorizontal longitudinal slot 25 which is adapted to closely embrace thedivider 22 which is of a plate-like construction. The end of the divider22 which is the closest to the shear 11 is attached to a clevis 26 bymeans of a pivot pin 27 and the outer end of the clevis 26 is connectedto the piston rod 28 of a hydraulic linear actuator '29. The

portion of the divider which lies within the housing 19 and which isremote from the shear 11 is formed with a curved edge 31, thuspermitting the entire divider to lie outside" the housing when pivotedabout the pivot pin 23 by means of the linear actuator 29. This sameedge 31 is provided" with a knife edge, as has been stated above.

Referring now to Figure 2, wherein is shown the control circuitsassociated with the switch, it can be seen that the hydraulic linearactuator 29 which acts to move thedivider 22 in and out of the housing19 has a hydraulic"- conduit 32 attached to one end and a conduit 33attachedto the other end. The conduit 33 is also attached to'oneendofahydraulic linear actuator 34 whose piston rod 35. is pivotallyattached to the actuating handle 36 of a'shut Y off valve 37. The valve37 lies in a water conduit 38 lead- Patented Sept. 16,1958

ing to the nozzle 21 and is so constructed that, when the handle is inthe lower position shown in solid lines in the figure, no water ispermitted to flow to the nozzle 21. The conduit 32 is connected at itsother end to other end of the linear actuator 34. The central portion ofthe conduit 33 is connected by a conduit 39 to a port 41 of a controlvalve 42 having a handle 43. The handle 43 extends from the valve and isdirectly connected to the valve spool 44. The intermediate portion ofthe conduit 33 is connected to another port 45 of the valve 42. Thevalve 42 is provided with ports 46 and 47 which are connected byconduits 48 and 49 respectively to a sump tank 51. The valve 42 is alsoprovided with a port 52 which is connected by a conduit 53 to the outputof a pump 54 whose input is connected through a conduit 55 to the sump51. The pump 54 is driven by an electric motor 56.

Returning to the valve 42, it will be observed that the valve spool isprovided with reduced portions 57, 58, and 59 and is normally biased toan upper position by means of a coil spring 61. In its upper positionthe reduced portions 57, 58 and 59 and the ports 41, 45, 46, 47 and 52are located in such a manner that the port 52 which contains the highpressure oil from the pump 54 is in communication through the reducedportion 58 with the port 45 leading through the conduit 32 to one end ofthe linear actuators 29 and 34. When the handle 43 is depressed againstthe resistance of the spring 61 the valve spool 44 moves to a positionin which the reduced portion 57 serves to communicate to connect incommunication the port 52 with the port 41 which acts through theconduits 39 and 33 to apply hydraulic pressure to the other end of thelinear actuators 29 and 34. In the upper position of the valve spool 44the port 41 is in communication through the reduced portion 57 with theport 46 leading to the sump while in the lower position of the valvespool 44 the port 45 is in communication through the reduced portion 58with the sump 51.

The operation of the apparatus of the invention will now be readilyunderstood in view of the above description. A red R enters the switchafter leaving the last stand of a rolling mill or the like. It will beunderstood that the output of the switch is to either a cooling bed or aplurality of reels. in any case, the rod must be severed in at least twopieces in order that the length may be accommodated by a reel. In anycase, the discs 12 of the shear 11 are rotating in the usual manner andthe motor 56 is actuating the pump 54 to provide high pressure fluid. Inthis condition the high pressure fluid acts through the conduit 53 andthe port 52 to pass through the reduced portion 58 into the port 45, theconduit 33, to actuate the linear actuator 29 to maintain the divider22. across the housing 19 of the switch. At the same time the highpressure fluid in the conduit 33 acts on the linear actuator 34 tomaintain the valve 37 in such condition that no water flows to nozzle21, the rod R enters the approach portion 13 of the switch and, as isshown in solid lines in Figure 1, lies against the bottom thereof. Afterpassing un der the blades 12 of the shear 11, the rod enters the backshear portion 14 lying in the bottom of the housing in the space betweenit and the dividing member 16, this being the lower path 18. When halfof the rod has passed the shear 11 the operator presses down on thehandle 43. This action, of course, may take place automatically throughthe Well known signal flag and automatic control apparatus if sodesired. As the valve spool 44 moves downwardly the high pressure fluidin the port 52 makes itself felt through the reduced portion 57, theport 41 and the conduit 32 in the other end of the linear actuators 29and 34. When this high pressure fluid pressure appears in the left sideof the linear actuator 29 it acts through the piston rod 23 and theclevis 26 to move the divider 22 through the slot and housing 19entirely out of the switch. At the same time this is happening the highpressure fluid makes itself felt on the lower end of the linear actuator34, thus acting through the piston rod and the actuating arm 36 of thevalve 37 to place the valve 37 in condition that water flows to thenozzle 21. The size of the conduit 38 leading to the nozzle 21, thenature of the nozzle 21 and the water pressure contained therein areselected in such a manner as to give a stream of very great forcedirected upwardly against the rod R. When the stream of water strikesthe rod R it moves upwardly between the discs 12 of the shear 11. Thenature of the discs is such that rotating toward one another theyinstantly snatch the rod R and move it upwardly between the discs. Sincethe divider 22 no longer lies within the housing 19 the rod is permittedto move between the discs and upwardly in the housing 19. The forwardmotion of the rod is such that the forward end of the rear half of therod enters the upper path 17 above the dividing member 16 in the backshear portion 15, while the front half of the rod continues onwardly onthe lower path 18. The path taken by the rear half of the rod afterseverance by the shear 11 is shown in dotted lines.

It can be seen then that at the instant when the water from the nozzle21 strikes the rod R the divider 22 has been removed from the housing,thus permitting the rod to be thrown upwardly through the blades of thedisc shear without striking any surface which will cause a bend in therod; thus the rearward half of the rod is provided with a perfectlystraight end and should cause no cobbles or difficulties in followingparts of the mill.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form andconstruction of the invention without departing from the material spiritthereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to theexact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include allsuch as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been best described what is claimed as new anddesired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A rod switch for use with a shear, comprising a housing located toenclose a length of rod as it approaches the shear, a divider movablefrom a first position within the housing to a second position outsidethe housing, a nozzle directed toward the rod as it passes through thehousing, means for supplying the nozzle on occasion with fluid forforming a stream of considerable force, the said stream serving to movethe rod into operative relationship to the shear, and means forsimultaneously moving the divider from its first position to its secondposition and for supplying the nozzle with fluid.

2. A rod switch for use with a disc shear, comprising a housing locatedto enclose a length of rod as it approaches the shear, a divider movablefrom a first position within the housing to a second position outsidethe housing, a nozzle directed toward the rod as it passes through thehousing, a conduit for supplying the nozzle with water forming a streamof considerable force, a valve for preventing or permitting the How ofwater through the conduit to the nozzle, the said stream serving to movethe rod between the disc of the shear, and means for simultaneouslymoving the divider from its first position to its second position andfor opening the valve to cause flow of water through the conduit to thenozzle.

3. A rod switch for use with a disc shear, comprising an approachportion including an elongated tubular housing located to enclose alength of rod as it approaches the shear, a longitudinal slot formed inthe housing, a divider movable through the slot from a first positionwithin the housing to a second position outside the housing, a nozzledirected toward the rod as it passes through the housing, a conduit forsupplying the nozzle with water for forming a stream of considerableforce, a valve for controlling the flow of water through the conduit tothe nozzle, the said stream serving to move the rod between the discs ofthe shear, and means for simultaneously moving the divider from itsfirst position to its second position and for opening the valve to causeflow of water through the conduit to the nozzle.

4. A rod switch for use with a disc shear, comprising a housing locatedto enclose a length of rod as it approaches .5 the shear, an elongatedflat divider pivoted at one end to swing about an axis at a right angleto the general plane of the divider, the said divider being pivotallymovable from a first position Within the housing to a second positionoutside the housing, a nozzle directed toward the rod as it passesthrough the housing, a conduit for supplying the nozzle with water forforming a stream of considerable force, a valve for controlling the flowof water through the conduit to the nozzle, the said stream serving tomove the rod between the discs of the shear, and means forsimultaneously moving the divider from its first position to its secondposition and for opening the valve to cause flow of water through theconduit to the nozzle.

5. A rod switch for use with a disc shear, comprising a housing locatedto enclose a length of rod as it approaches the shear, a divider movablefrom a first position within the housing to a second position outsidethe housing, a nozzle directed toward the rod as it passes through thehousing, a conduit for supplying the nozzle with water for forming astream of considerable force, a valve having a handle for controllingthe flow of water through the conduit to the nozzle, a hydraulic linearactuator for moving the handle from a valve-open position to avalveclosed position, said stream serving to move the rod between thediscs of the shear, and means for simultaneously actuating the linearactuator for moving the divider from its first position to its secondposition and for opening the valve to cause flow of water through theconduit to the nozzle.

6. A rod switch for use with a disc shear, comprising a housing locatedto enclose a length of rod as it approaches the shear, a divider mountedfor movement from a first position within the housing to a secondposition outside the housing, a hydraulic linear actuator connected tothe divider to bring about the said movement, a nozzle directed towardthe rod as it passes through the housing, a conduit for supplying thenozzle with water for forming a stream of considerable force, a valvefor controlling the flow of water through the conduit to the nozzle, thesaid stream serving to move the rod between the discs of the shear, andmeans for simultaneously actuating the linear actuator and for openingthe valve to cause a flow of water through the conduit to the nozzle.

7. A rod switch for use with a disc shear, comprising an approachportion including an elongated tubular housing located to enclose alength of rod as it approaches the shear, a longitudinal slot formed inthe housing, an elongated fiat divider pivoted at one end to swing aboutan axis at a right angle to the general plane of the divider, the saiddivider being thus pivotally removable through the slot from a firstposition within the housing to a second position outside the housing, afirst hydraulic linear actuator connected to the divider to bring aboutthe said movement, a nozzle directed toward the rod as it passes throughthe housing, a conduit for supplying the nozzle with water for forming astream of considerable force, a valve having a handle for controllingthe flow of Water from the conduit to the nozzle, a second hydrauliclinear actuator for moving the handle from a valve-open position to avalve-closed position, the said stream serving to move the rod betweenthe discs of the shear, and means for simultaneously actuating the firstlinear actuator for moving the divider from its first position to itssecond position and for actuating the second linear actuator for openingthe valve to cause flow of water through the conduit to the nozzle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS BedsonFeb. 1, 1955

